Ammunition assembly machine



A. F. GAGNE, JR

AMMUNITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE July 11, 1950 2,5149% 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 INVENTOR fl/vro/Mf [G G/mm O ATTORN Y5 July 11, 1950 A. F. GAGNE, JR

AMMUNITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 INVENTOR fl/vrowa [GA G/Vj J/e.

M; ATTORNEY July 11, 1950 A. F. GAGNE, JR

AMMUNITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 ATTORNEYS Patented July 115, 195i) UNETED STATES anima ATENT AMIl IUNITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE Application August 22, 1944, Serial No. 550,637

This invention relates to a machine for assembling an article having a plurality of components and is particularly directed to a means for assembling ammunition components.

It is desirable frequently, in such machines for assembling a plurality of components, to stop the machine at a detector station in the absence of only one of the components at said station, to allow correction thereof. At the same time, it is unnecessary to stop the machine in the absence of all components at said station and only necessary to prevent feed at subsequent stations of other components. It is undesirable to stop the operation of an automatic machine unless absolutely necessary when the same result can be obtained by merely stopping the feed of a component to the transfer mechanism Of the machine. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an automatic detector and component feeding means in a machine for assembling an article having several parts, such as an armor piercing projectile.

When a component is to be assembled havin several parts, it is necessary to detect for the second part and to stop the machine in the event it is not present, so that when the third element is added, the article will have all elements therein. As previously stated, if none of the parts are present, it is only necessary to prevent the feeding of any of the other parts at succeeding stations and not to stop the machine. The invention is shown particularly in conjunction with the assembly of ammunition components but it can be used for other purposes. Other objects and features will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a machine in which the present invention may be incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine showing the present invention, the parts being moved as if a projectile i in place in the dial under the detector punch.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the View shown in Fig. 2, the projectile being indicated in place in the transfer dial.

Fig. 4 is a side view looking in direction 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 2 with the exception that the parts are shown with no projectile in the transfer mechanism at the detector station, the notched stop wheel having been rotated accordingly so as to prevent the feed of a component in the suceeding core feeding station.

12 Claims. (CI. 86-12) Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of one form of the detector stop mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of an armor piercing projectile showing the component parts before they are pressed into their completed position.

Fig. 8 is the projectile of Fig. 7 with the core and tip forced into place.

The machine to which the present device may be applied generally is shown in Fig. 1, wherein there is a belt driven pulley ll] operating the reciprocating gate H, said gate carrying the various tools which are diagrammatically indicated at 12. A lower gate 13 is reciprocated upwardly to properly move the pieces to .a suitable transfer dial (not shown in Fig. 1) after the gate H has moved the pieces downwardly into dies held therein. The lower gate may be operated through suitable links M from the main crankshaft which is driven by pulley 10. At is shown diagrammatically the device of the present invention. Arm 48 reciprocates toward and away from the front of the machine, said arm carrying the indexing mechanism for the conveyor or transfer dial and also carrying the cam roller of the present device.

An armor piercing projectile consists usually of a jacket 20 (Figs. 7 and 8) made of some suitable material, such as gilding metal or copperplated steel, with a hard metallic core 2! placed within the jacket 20, and a lead slug 22 in the tip thereof. Said lead slug may be in the form of a spherical shot or any desired convenient shape. The hardened core 2| is made from suitable material adapted for the purpose, such as high grade hardened steel. It is obvious that other types of cores and assemblies may be employed and that other articles may be assembled in a machine embodying the present invention. The projectile shown in Fig. 8 may be completed in any desired manner, such as by turning in the base end of the jacket, or by putting a suitable cap over the core before the end is flattened, said finishing being conventional and not described in detail herein.

The machine shown uses an indexing transfer dial or conveyor 23 (Figs. 2 and 3) for transferring the work from station to station, but it is apparent that a straight line machine could have the features of the present invention incorporated therein. The jacket first has the lead slug 22 placed therein. It is necessary to detect for the presence of this slug to make certain that it is in the projectile, as otherwise the completed bullet will be imperfect and off balance. When a jacket does not have a slug therein, it is necessary to stop the machine so as to remove the jacket or to place a slug therein. However, if a jacket is not in the transfer mechanism, there is no reason for stopping the machine, but it is desirable at the core feeding station to prevent the feeding of a core when no jacket is present at the station. The device of this invention provides means at the lead slug detector station to stop the machine if a slug is not present in a jacket but not to stop the machine in the event there is no jacket at the station. When there is. no jacket at the station, the feeding of a core to the transfer mechanism when the empty station reaches the core feeding station is prevented.

Referring to Fig. 2, the dial, transfer means is shown schematically at 23' as underlying the plate 25, said dial having article or jacket receiving apertures at 24 and being indexable from station to station. The plate 25 can be supported in a suitable manner by supports 98 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) on the bed 26 (Fig. 1) of the machine. The jacket 20 may be fed by hand orautomatically into the dial ata feed station. (not shown) from where it is carried to the lead slug feed station 30, (Figs. 2 and 5). The jacket may be shaped in a previous machine or it may be shaped by suitable tools from the cup form in the present machine. These are not shown, inasmuch as they are not part of this invention.

The lead shot or slug can be fed through tube 28 to a transfer arm 8'5, from where the shot is delivered at station 38 in timed relation to a jacket located in an aperture 24 after the dial has indexed and carried a jacket tothis station. The lead shot feeding mechanism comprises arm 83 located on the underside of. plate 25 andfixed to shaft 84 (Figs. 2 and 3), said arm being urgedin a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) by spring 85 was to overlie the path of the jackets in the transfer dial. Affixed to the upper. endof shaft 84 is an arm 85. The feed arm fills loosely mounted on shaft Mand urgedby springBB into contact with arm 86 through adjustable screw 89, said screw 89 beingheld in arm 81. There is an aperture 98 located in the end of arm 8T- to receive a shot from tube 28, said aperture'being arranged to carry said shot to feed passage 9| as arm 81 is oscillated by a jacket contacting arrn 83 as the dial, 23 is indexed. The'endof. arm 81' islocated within a slot, in yoke 29. Yoke 29 has openings and, guide surfaces to accommodate theend of transfer arm 81, said yoke being adjustably mountedby means of bolts 96. and 91 on plate 25. As the shot is fed over the passage 8|, it will roll downwardly therein andv can be held at the exit thereof by any type of suitable spring retaining means (not shown) located at 93 to temporarily holdthe shot. until a punch carried-by the, gate is reciprocateddownwardly in timed relation to force the shot intoa jacket located thereunder. The shot will not be delivered to the point 93 unless there isa jacket in the transfer dial being moved to this station. A jacket located in the dial as it is moved will contact arm 83, causing oscillation thereof, and thus feed a slug from 28to feed passage 9|. In

the absence of a jacket in the dial, there will not.

be a delivery of a slug to feed passage; 9!.

The next indexing of the transfer dial will carry the projectile jacket with a slug therein to the detector station 3|. For purposes of, simplicity, the components are not shown in the dial in Figs. 2 and 5, but are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. As indicatedin Fig. 3, the transfer dial.

'2 3 is located below plate-25 underneath star wheel 3t and arm 83, a projectile jacket therein extending upwardly as at 99 (Fig. 3) so as to contact in turn both arm 83 and star wheel 35. At the detector station, after-the dial has indexed, the detector punch 15 carried by spring-loaded extension 78 (Fig. 6) will move downwardly and enter the jacket in a conventional manner. If there i a slug within the. jacket, the springloaded extension will be forced yieldingly upward and the end of arm 32 (Figs. 2 and 6) will not be engaged by shoulder ll. If there is no slug in the jacket, the extension 53 and shoulder H thereon will move downwardly so as to engage the tip-i arm 32: and cause the arm to rotate about pivot 19 against tension of spring 80, activating micro-switch 8i which is so positioned in a control circuit as to stop the machine when thus activated.

Asa jacket is moved in the transfer dial to the detector punch station, the projecting end 9-9 of the jacket (Fig. 3) will contact one of the arms 35, of. the star wheel androtate the same to the approximate position shownin Fig. 2, the star wheel being located just above the dial. A notched stop wheel 34 is fastened to shaft 31, which in turn, has the star wheel mounted there on so that turning of the star Wheel will turn the stop wheel 3 to a predetermined position. The stop wheel 3.6 has apertures35 located therein which cooperate with. the circular projection 32 (Figs. 3 andv 6) located on arm 32. When the star wheel is in. the position shown in Fig. 2, towhich it is carried by the presence of jacket in the aperture 24 inthe dial, projection 32 can enter a hole 35 located thereunder and allow the detector punch to move downwardly to operate as just describedto detect the presence or absence of a slug. inthe projectile. In the event there is no jacket in the, dial, the. star wheelwill remain inthe position shown in Fig. 5 and. the projection 32' will not enter one of the apertures 35 so that the machine will not be stopped.

Upon the next indexing of the dial, the projectile jacket, with a slug therein, advancing from station 3lwill-again contact the star wheel arm (Fig. 2); and further rotate the star wheel 35 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The star wheel will be'rotated slightl-y'beyond; the upstanding jacket end'as' indicated in Fig. 2 because of the spring loaded arm 52-and roller 55. which enterv the deeper recesses of notched Wheel 34 and rotate the shaft a slight amount farther than it is moved by the. jacket. In order for the star wheel to again assume the relative. position shown in Fig. 2, it is necessary for a jacket to be in the aperture in the dial approachingstation 3!. Said jacket will then contact another arm 36' of the star wheel (Fig. 5) and continue rotation of the star: wheelto the relative position shown in Fig. 2. In the event there is no projectile or jacket in the. transfer dial, the star wheelwill'remain in the position shown in Fig. 5, and when in this position none of the apertures 35 will be in registry with projection 32'. As a result, when the. detector punch moves downwardly, it willb'e stopped in its travel and will not take its maximum course downwardly to stop themachine such as it would in the absence of a lead slug in a projectile. In this manner,,the machine is notstopped by the absence of 'a projectile in the dia-l'at this point but is stoppedby the absence of a-slugin a projectilejacket at this station.

It is desirable to .pr'event th'e feed of a core at- ;station.38.'in,theteventzthere is no jacket in the having an arm 46 is attachedto the shaft 40 at, the end opposite to the escapement mechanism.

Cam 45 is adjustably supported on armlifi of the bell crank lever 44. Cam 45 isoperated by cam.

roller. 41, which, in turn, .is fastened by bracket I50 onto one of the reciprocating operating levers 48 (Figs. 1 and of the machine, said lever moving in a direction to reciprocate the cam roller 4'! along the edge of the cam 55 in timed relation to the movement of the dial and other operating .parts of the machine. As the cam roller 41 moves to the rear of the machine so that it is adapted to be in contact with portion 49 (Fig. 4) of the cam, spring 50 will cause rotation of the bell crank lever in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) so as to move stud 42 into the path of a core in the bore 43 of the feed tube. At the same time, spring-pressed plunger 4| is removed from contact with a core so that a core will slide downwardly and be held by stud 42. As the cam roller moves toward the front of the machine, the bell crank lever will be rotated in the opposite direction and will release the lowermost core for delivery into a projectile at the dial at station 38 through feed tube 5|. At the same time, the spring-pressed plunger 4| will prevent the next core from moving downwardly so that one core will be delivered. Cam plate 45 may be adjustably mounted by screws ml to arm 46.

The normal operation and delivery of one core at a time for each movement of the cam rollers occurs when the bell crank blocking arm 52 (Fig. 2) is in normal operative position. Bell crank blocking arm 52 is pivoted at 53 and has a spring 54 urging the lever in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 2 and 5). Roller 55 is carried by one arm of the bell crank lever and is urged into arcuate depressions in the stop wheel 35. These depressions are of varying depth for the purpose about to be described. The depressions opposite the apertures 35 are deeper than the depressions which are in between said apertures. fingers 36 in the position shown in Fig. 2, a deep depression will be opposite the roller so that the bell crank blocking arm 52 is urged into such a position that the tip 55 of arm 6| will clear the tip 51 of the end 58 of the bell crank lever 4 3, this being indicative of the presence of a projectile in the dial. In the event there is no projectile in the transfer dial, the next finger 36- will take the position shown in Fig. 5 and the stop dial a corresponding position so that a shallow depression 59 is engaged by the roller 55. This is because no projectile is present in the dial to complete movement of the star wheel. In this position the tip 56 will be moved so that the notch 60 therein will engage the tip 57 of the bell crank lever and prevent cam 45 from following cam roller 4! and thus prevent the transfer of a core for delivery when the aperture then at station 3| reaches station 38 upon indexing of the dial. The bell crank lever 52 may be composed of arm 6|, which is adjustably fastened to thebell crank lever by means of bolt 52. Y

In the operation of the machine, a jacket is With the fed into the transfer dial openings 24am carried underneath the lead slug delivery station at 30, where a lead slugis delivered into a jacket. The jacket isthen transferred to station 3|, which rotates the star wheel to the position shown in Fig. 2. The detector punch is reciprocated, and if a slug isin the projectile, no movement of the detector arm 32 will take place. If there is noslug, detector arm 32 will be forced downwardly to. stop the machine, movement of arm 32 taking place, this being allowed by registry of aperture 35 with projection 32. The next indexing of the dial will cause the projectile to contact one of the fingers 36and rotate the stop dial and star wheel I to the position shown in Fig. 5 as it passes toward station38. In the event there is no projectile in the next preceding aperture, the star wheel and dial will stay. in the positionshown in Fig. 5 and thus the detector will be stopped from, downward movement by contact of projection 32' with the stop dial 3 because of nonregistry of an aperture 35 with the projection 32. At the same time, the bell crank lever 52 will be rotated in a clockwise direction so that the tip 5E5 will prevent movement of bell crank lever 46 preparatory to feeding a core to an empty aperture in the transfer dial on the next indexing of the dial. Thus, when the dial is next indexed, the empty aperture will be carried to station 38 and the releasing mechanism will not be oscillated so that a core will not be delivered. In other words, the star wheel and stop dial set the core. releasing mechanism so that it will deliver or not deliver an article at station 38,. de-

pending on whether or not there will be a jacket at station 38 when the releasing time occurs. The star wheel. and stop dial also provide for stopping the machine when a projectile without a slug is detected at station 3|, this requiring removal of the defective assembly or placing of a slug within the jacket.

What is claimed 1. In an assembling machine comprising a sequence of operating stations including a detector station, a component delivering station, means for delivering a component at said component delivering station, and transfer means for moving workpieces in turn to said detector station and from said detector station to said component delivering station; a detector at said detector station for detecting the condition of a workpiece at said station, means actuated by said detector for controlling a function of the machine, and a control device associated with said detector station and activated by a workpiece in transit to said detector station to con trol both said detector and said component delivering means.

2. In an assembling machine, transfer means for moving workpieces from station to station; a reciprocable detector at a detector station adapted to contact a workpiece at said station and operable to stop the machine if the reciprocation of the detector is beyond a predetermined amount; and means to stop said reciprocable detector in the absence of a workpiece in said transfer means at said detector station.

3. In an assembling machine, transfer means for moving workpieces from station to station; a reciprocable detector located at a detector station adapted to contact a workpiece at said detector station; machine stop means associated with the detector operable to stop the machine when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits; and means operable to block operation of the machine stop means in the absence. of a workpiece at said detector station.

4.1In an assembling machine, indexable: dial transfer means; for moving. workpieces. from. station to station; means to. stop saidmachine; means to feed workpiecesand component parts. thereof a reciprocable detector located at a de-- tector station for detecting. the presencezof component parts in a workpiece, said recipro'cable detector being adapted to enter a. workpiece at said. detector station and to operate said .machine stop when all of the component partsuare. not present inv the workpiece; and meanstorblock. operation; of. the machine stop means in the ab.- sence. of. a. workpiece at said detector. station 5. In an assembling. machine, transfer means for moving workpieces. from station to station; a reciprocable detector located. at a detector station for obtaining. an indication of the condition of a workpiece, said, detector being adapted to contact a. workpiece at saiddetector station; machine. stop means associated with thedetector and operable to stop the machine when said detector moves beyond predetermined limits; rotatable means located adjacent said transfer means and: movable by a workpiece in said transfer means; and means connected to said rotatable means to block operation of the machine stop means in the absence of a workpiece at said detector station.

6. In an assembling-machine,- transfer means for moving. workpieces from station to station; a reciprocable detector-located: atadetector station for obtaining an-indicationof the condi tion of a workpiece at said station, said detector being adapted to contact a workpiece at said. detector station; means cooperating with .said detector to stop the machine; when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits; rotatable means. located adjacent the transfer means and movable by a workpiece in said transfer-means; and means connected to said rotatable means and having apertures therein, said apertures being positionable to allow operation of said machine stop means only when a workpiece has been moved by the transfer means to the detector station.

7. In an assembling machine, transfer means for moving workpieces from station to station; a reciprocable detector located at a detector station adapted to contact a workpiece at said detector station; a pivoted arm operable by said detector to stop the machine when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits; rotatable means having arms projecting in the path of workpieces in the transfer means and movable by said workpieces; and means connected tosaid rotatable means having apertures-therein, said apertures being located relative to said pivoted means to allow movement thereof when a -workpiece is moved inthe transfer means to'the detector station. a

8. In an assembling machine, indexabletransfer means for moving workpieces from station to station; a yieldingly held reciprocable detector located at a detector station adapted tocontacta workpiece at said detector station; astop arm operable by said detector to stop the machine when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits; rotatable means having armsprojecting in the path of workpieces in the transferzmeans and movable by a workpiece as itis indexed from the detector station and further movable by a workpiece as it is indexed to the detector station; and blocking means connected to and rotatable with. saict rotatable means, said blocking means having apertures therein, said apertures being-located relative to said arms and stop arm so that. saidstop. arm can be moved to stop the machine only when aworkpiece is moved by the transfer means to the detector station.

9; man assembling machine, indexable dial transfer means for moving workpieces from station to station; aspring pressed reciprocable detector located at a. detector station adapted to contactzal workpiece" at said station, said spring yielding when a workpiece of an acceptable condition is atsai'd detector station; a stop arm having. a projection thereon and operable by said detector to stop the machine when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits; rotatable means having arms projecting in the path of workpieces in the transfer means and movable by a workpiece as it is indexed from the detector station and further movable by a workpiece as it is indexed to the detector station; and blocking means connected to and rotatable with said rotatable. means, said blocking means having apertures therein. adapted to cooperate with said projection on said stop arm when a workpiece is moved to. the detector station, thereby allowing operation of the stop arm tostop the machine when a workpiece is not. within predetermined limits.

10.. In. a machine for the assembly of a plurality of componentswitha first component comprising a sequence of operating stations including a second. component delivering station, a detectorlstation, a third component delivering station, andtransfer means for moving workpieces in turn from. one to another of said stations; in combination, component delivery means associated withsaid second component delivering station, controlimeans for said component delivery means actuated by a component in-said transfer means in transit to. said second component delivering:station,: a detector at said detector station, means-factivated by said detector for controlling a function of the machine, control means for said detector actuated by: a first component in transit to said detector station, third component delivery means-associated with said third component deliveringstation,- and control means for said third component delivery means actuated by said detector control means.

llQIn an assembling machine, indexable dial transfer means for moving workpieces from station to station;- detector'means at a detector station for determining the condition of a workpiece-at said detector station including a spring pressed reciprocabl'e detector adapted to contact a workpiece at said detector station, said spring yieldingwhen a workpiece of an acceptable condition is at said station; a stop arm having a-projection thereon and operable by said detector-to'stop the machine when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits; a rotatable star wheel located adjacent said transfer means and having arms projecting in the path of workpieces inthe dial, said star wheel being rotatable in part of its movement by a workpiece as it is indexed away from said detector station and the remainder of itsmovement by the next workpiece as it is indexed to-said detector station; a cylinder connected to and rotatable with said rotatable star wheel, said cylinder having apertures' therein adapted to cooperate with said projection on said stop arm when a workpiece is moved to the detector station, thereby allowing operation of the stop means to stop the machine when a workpiece is not within predetermined limits, said cylinder having on a margin thereof shallow indentations between the arms of said star wheel and deeper indentations aligned with said arms; component feed means at a feed station located after said detector station for feeding another component to a workpiece moved by said transfer means to the feed station; escapement mechanism at said feed station to control the feed of a component to a workpiece after it has been indexed from the detector station to the feed station; a pivoted arm operable to prevent operation of said escapement mechanism; and spring means to urge a follower on said pivoted arm toward said indentations in the margin of the cylinder, said shallow indentations being arranged to move the pivoted arm to blocking position of the escapement mechanism when the star wheel is not moved by a workpiece as it is indexed to the detector station, and said deeper indentations allowing operation of the escapement mechanism.

12. In a bullet assembling machine, indexable dial transfer means for moving bullet jackets from station to station; means to feed. a slug into said jacket; a spring pressed reciprocable detector at a detector station; a stop arm having a projection thereon and operable by said detector to stop the machine when the detector moves beyond predetermined limits due to the absence of a slug in the jacket; a rotatable star wheel located adjacent said transfer means and having arms projecting in the path of workpieces in the dial, said star wheel being rotatable in part of its movement by a bullet jacket as it is indexed away from said detector station and the remainder of its movement by the next workpiece as it is indexed to said detector station; a cylinder connected to and rotatable with said star wheel, said cylinder having apertures therein corresponding to the arms of said star wheel so that said projection on the stop arm will allow operation of the detector when a bullet jacket is at the detector station, said cylinder having on a margin thereof shallow indentations between the arms of said star wheel and deeper indentations aligned with said arms; a bullet core feed means at a feed station located after said detector station for feeding cores to a jacket moved by said transfer means to the feed station; escapement mechanism to control the feed of cores to a jacket at the feed station; a pivoted arm operable to prevent operation of said escapement mechanism and feed of cores in the absence of a jacket at the feed station; and spring means to urge a follower on said pivoted arm toward said indentations in the margin of said cylinder, the shallow indentations moving the pivoted arm to an escapement mechanism blocking position and the deeper indentations moving the arm out of the way of the escapement mechanism.

ANTOINE F. GAGNE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 635,072 Hurd Oct. 7, 1889 1,964,078 P'odel June 26, 1934 2,373,582 Kuehl Apr. 10, 1945 

